Control signaling design for improved resource utilization

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatuses for PDCCH reception and transmission. A method for PDCCH reception includes transmitting a capability for receptions of PDCCHs on a downlink (DL) cell. PDCCH receptions on the DL cell are according to (X1, Y1) or (X2, Y2) when any two PDCCH receptions are within Y1 or Y2 symbols or have first symbols separated by at least X1 or X2 symbols, respectively. The method further includes receiving a configuration of search space sets for PDCCH receptions on the DL cell; determining, based on the configuration of the search space sets, whether PDCCH receptions are according to (X2, Y2); and receiving on the DL cell: a maximum number of MPDCCHmax,X1,μ PDCCHs within Y1 symbols when PDCCH receptions are not according to (X2, Y2), and a maximum number of MPDCCHmax,X2,μ PDCCHs within Y2 symbols when PDCCH receptions are according to (X2, Y2).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/877,956, filed on Jul. 24, 2019 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/964,750, filed on Jan. 23, 2020. The contentof the above-identified patent document is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communicationsystems and, more specifically, to enhancing resource efficiency forcommunication between a base station and user equipments (UEs).

BACKGROUND

5th generation (5G) or new radio (NR) mobile communications, initialcommercialization of which is expected around 2020, is recentlygathering increased momentum with all the worldwide technical activitieson the various candidate technologies from industry and academia. Thecandidate enablers for the 5G/NR mobile communications include massiveantenna technologies, from legacy cellular frequency bands up to highfrequencies, to provide beamforming gain and support increased capacity,new waveform (e.g., a new radio access technology (RAT)) to flexiblyaccommodate various services/applications with different requirements,new multiple access schemes to support massive connections, and so on.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide control signalingdesign for improved resource utilization control.

In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is provided. The UE includes atransceiver configured to transmit a capability for receptions ofphysical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a downlink (DL) cellaccording to a first pair of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and a second pair of (X₂,Y₂) symbols. PDCCH receptions on the DL cell are according to (X₁, Y₁)or (X₂, Y₂) when any two PDCCH receptions are within Y₁ or Y₂ symbols orhave first symbols separated by at least X₁ or X₂ symbols, respectively.Y₁<X₁, Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂. A first maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹^(,μ) of PDCCH receptions within Y₁ symbols according to (X₁, Y₁) issmaller than a second maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) of PDCCHreceptions within Y₂ according to (X₂, Y₂). The transceiver is furtherconfigured to receive a configuration of search space sets for PDCCHreceptions on the DL cell. The UE also includes a processor operablyconnected to the transceiver. The processor is configured to determinebased on the configuration of the search space sets whether PDCCHreceptions are according to (X₂, Y₂). The transceiver is furtherconfigured to receive on the DL cell: a maximum number of M_(PDCCH)^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCH receptions are notaccording to (X₂, Y₂), and a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ²^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₂ symbols when PDCCH receptions are according to(X₂, Y₂).

In another embodiment, a base station is provided. The base stationincludes a transceiver configured to receive a capability fortransmissions of PDCCHs on a DL cell according to a first pair of (X₁,Y₁) symbols and a second pair of (X₂, Y₂) symbols. PDCCH transmission onthe DL cell are according to (X₁, Y₁) or (X₂, Y₂) when any two PDCCHtransmission are within Y₁ or Y₂ symbols or have first symbols separatedby at least X₁ or X₂ symbols, respectively. Y₁<X₁, Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂. Afirst maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) of PDCCH transmissionswithin Y₁ symbols according to (X₁, Y₁) is smaller than a second maximumnumber M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) of PDCCH transmissions within Y₂according to (X₂, Y₂). The transceiver is further configured to transmita configuration of search space sets for PDCCH transmissions on the DLcell. The base station further includes a processor operably connectedto the transceiver. The processor is configured to determine based onthe configuration of the search space sets whether PDCCH transmissionsare according to (X₂, Y₂). The transceiver is further configured totransmit on the DL cell: a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ)PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCH transmissions are not according to(X₂, Y₂), and a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) PDCCHswithin Y₂ symbols when PDCCH transmissions are according to (X₂, Y₂).

In yet another embodiment, a method for receiving PDCCHs is provided.The method includes transmitting a capability for receptions of PDCCHson a DL cell according to a first pair of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and a secondpair of (X₂, Y₂) symbols. PDCCH receptions on the DL cell are accordingto (X₁, Y₁) or (X₂, Y₂) when any two PDCCH receptions are within Y₁ orY₂ symbols or have first symbols separated by at least X₁ or X₂ symbols,respectively. Y₁<X₁, Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂. A first maximum number M_(PDCCH)^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) of PDCCH receptions within Y₁ symbols according to (X₁,Y₁) is smaller than a second maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ)of PDCCH receptions within Y₂ according to (X₂, Y₂). The method furtherincludes receiving a configuration of search space sets for PDCCHreceptions on the DL cell; determining, based on the configuration ofthe search space sets, whether PDCCH receptions are according to (X₂,Y₂); and receiving on the DL cell: a maximum number of M_(PDCCH)^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCH receptions are notaccording to (X₂, Y₂), and a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ²^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₂ symbols when PDCCH receptions are according to(X₂, Y₂).

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in theart from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may beadvantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases usedthroughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivativesrefer to any direct or indirect communication between two or moreelements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with oneanother. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well asderivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication.The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, meaninclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaningand/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof,means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, becontained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicablewith, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be boundto or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, orthe like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereofthat controls at least one operation. Such a controller may beimplemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/orfirmware. The functionality associated with any particular controllermay be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Thephrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means thatdifferent combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used,and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least oneof: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, Aand B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented orsupported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed fromcomputer readable program code and embodied in a computer readablemedium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or morecomputer programs, software components, sets of instructions,procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or aportion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computerreadable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code”includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code,and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes anytype of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, acompact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type ofmemory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired,wireless, optical, or other communication links that transporttransitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computerreadable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored andmedia where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as arewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughoutthis patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art shouldunderstand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply toprior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and itsadvantages, reference is now made to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example gNB according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates an example DL slot structure according toembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B illustrates an example DL slot structure according toembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A illustrates an example transmitter structure using OFDMaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B illustrates an example receiver structure using OFDM accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a UE procedure for a search space setaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a UE procedure to determine a cellfor a PUCCH transmission according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 8A illustrates a flow chart of UE procedure to determine PDCCHcandidates according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B illustrates an example for determining PDCCH candidatesaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of UE procedure to determine values fora set of parameters according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 through FIG. 9, discussed below, and the various embodiments usedto describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patentdocument are by way of illustration only and should not be construed inany way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the principles of the present disclosure may beimplemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

The following documents are hereby incorporated by reference into thepresent disclosure as if fully set forth herein: 3GPP TS 38.211 v15.6.0,“NR; Physical channels and modulation;” 3GPP TS 38.212 v15.6.0, “NR;Multiplexing and Channel coding;” 3GPP TS 38.213 v15.6.0, “NR; PhysicalLayer Procedures for Control;” 3GPP TS 38.214 v15.6.0, “NR; PhysicalLayer Procedures for Data;” 3GPP TS 38.321 v15.6.0, “NR; Medium AccessControl (MAC) protocol specification;” and 3GPP TS 38.331 v15.6.0, “NR;Radio Resource Control (RRC) Protocol Specification.”

FIGS. 1-3 below describe various embodiments implemented in wirelesscommunications systems and with the use of orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access(OFDMA) communication techniques. The descriptions of FIGS. 1-3 are notmeant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner inwhich different embodiments may be implemented. Different embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably-arrangedcommunications system.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodimentsof the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network shownin FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wirelessnetwork 100 could be used without departing from the scope of thisdisclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network includes a gNB 101 (e.g., basestation, BS), a gNB 102, and a gNB 103. The gNB 101 communicates withthe gNB 102 and the gNB 103. The gNB 101 also communicates with at leastone network 130, such as the Internet, a proprietary Internet Protocol(IP) network, or other data network.

The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for afirst plurality of user equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 ofthe gNB 102. The first plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may belocated in a small business (SB); a UE 112, which may be located in anenterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); aUE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R); a UE 115, whichmay be located in a second residence (R); and a UE 116, which may be amobile device (M), such as a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wirelessPDA, or the like. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to thenetwork 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 ofthe gNB 103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE116. In some embodiments, one or more of the gNB s 101-103 maycommunicate with each other and with the UEs 111-116 using 5G/NR, LTE,LTE-A, WiMAX, WiFi, or other wireless communication techniques.

Depending on the network type, the term “base station” or “BS” can referto any component (or collection of components) configured to providewireless access to a network, such as transmit point (TP),transmit-receive point (TRP), an enhanced base station (eNodeB or eNB),a 5G/NR base station (gNB), a macrocell, a femtocell, a WiFi accesspoint (AP), or other wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations mayprovide wireless access in accordance with one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, e.g., 5G/NR 3GPP new radio interface/access(NR), long term evolution (LTE), LTE advanced (LTE-A), high speed packetaccess (HSPA), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, etc. For the sake of convenience,the terms “BS” and “TRP” are used interchangeably in this patentdocument to refer to network infrastructure components that providewireless access to remote terminals. Also, depending on the networktype, the term “user equipment” or “UE” can refer to any component suchas “mobile station,” “subscriber station,” “remote terminal,” “wirelessterminal,” “receive point,” or “user device.” For the sake ofconvenience, the terms “user equipment” and “UE” are used in this patentdocument to refer to remote wireless equipment that wirelessly accessesa BS, whether the UE is a mobile device (such as a mobile telephone orsmartphone) or is normally considered a stationary device (such as adesktop computer or vending machine).

Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes ofillustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood thatthe coverage areas associated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, dependingupon the configuration of the gNBs and variations in the radioenvironment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

As described in more detail below, one or more of the UEs 111-116include circuitry, programming, or a combination thereof, for efficientcontrol signaling design for improved resource utilization. In certainembodiments, and one or more of the gNBs 101-103 includes circuitry,programming, or a combination thereof, for efficient control signalingdesign for improved resource utilization.

Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network, variouschanges may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network couldinclude any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in any suitablearrangement. Also, the gNB 101 could communicate directly with anynumber of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband access tothe network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 could communicate directlywith the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wireless broadbandaccess to the network 130. Further, the gNBs 101, 102, and/or 103 couldprovide access to other or additional external networks, such asexternal telephone networks or other types of data networks.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example gNB 102 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the gNB 102 illustrated in FIG. 2is for illustration only, and the gNBs 101 and 103 of FIG. 1 could havethe same or similar configuration. However, gNBs come in a wide varietyof configurations, and FIG. 2 does not limit the scope of thisdisclosure to any particular implementation of a gNB.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 205 a-205 n,multiple RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry215, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 220. The gNB 102 alsoincludes a controller/processor 225, a memory 230, and a backhaul ornetwork interface 235.

The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n receive, from the antennas 205 a-205 n,incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs in the network100. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 n down-convert the incoming RFsignals to generate IF or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signalsare sent to the RX processing circuitry 220, which generates processedbaseband signals by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the basebandor IF signals. The RX processing circuitry 220 transmits the processedbaseband signals to the controller/processor 225 for further processing.

The TX processing circuitry 215 receives analog or digital data (such asvoice data, web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from thecontroller/processor 225. The TX processing circuitry 215 encodes,multiplexes, and/or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generateprocessed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 210 a-210 nreceive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TXprocessing circuitry 215 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals toRF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 205 a-205 n.

The controller/processor 225 can include one or more processors or otherprocessing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102.For example, the controller/processor 225 could control the reception offorward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signalsby the RF transceivers 210 a-210 n, the RX processing circuitry 220, andthe TX processing circuitry 215 in accordance with well-knownprinciples. The controller/processor 225 could support additionalfunctions as well, such as more advanced wireless communicationfunctions. For instance, the controller/processor 225 could support beamforming or directional routing operations in which outgoing/incomingsignals from/to multiple antennas 205 a-205 n are weighted differentlyto effectively steer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any ofa wide variety of other functions could be supported in the gNB 102 bythe controller/processor 225.

The controller/processor 225 is also capable of executing programs andother processes resident in the memory 230, such as an OS. Thecontroller/processor 225 can move data into or out of the memory 230 asrequired by an executing process.

The controller/processor 225 is also coupled to the backhaul or networkinterface 235. The backhaul or network interface 235 allows the gNB 102to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connectionor over a network. The interface 235 could support communications overany suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the gNB102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such asone supporting 5G/NR, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 235 could allow thegNB 102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired or wireless backhaulconnection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as an access point, theinterface 235 could allow the gNB 102 to communicate over a wired orwireless local area network or over a wired or wireless connection to alarger network (such as the Internet). The interface 235 includes anysuitable structure supporting communications over a wired or wirelessconnection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver. The memory 230 iscoupled to the controller/processor 225. Part of the memory 230 couldinclude a RAM, and another part of the memory 230 could include a Flashmemory or other ROM.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of gNB 102, various changes maybe made to FIG. 2. For example, the gNB 102 could include any number ofeach component shown in FIG. 2. As a particular example, an access pointcould include a number of interfaces 235, and the controller/processor225 could support routing functions to route data between differentnetwork addresses. As another particular example, while shown asincluding a single instance of TX processing circuitry 215 and a singleinstance of RX processing circuitry 220, the gNB 102 could includemultiple instances of each (such as one per RF transceiver). Also,various components in FIG. 2 could be combined, further subdivided, oromitted and additional components could be added according to particularneeds.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example UE 116 according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3is for illustration only, and the UEs 111-115 of FIG. 1 could have thesame or similar configuration. However, UEs come in a wide variety ofconfigurations, and FIG. 3 does not limit the scope of this disclosureto any particular implementation of a UE.

As shown in FIG. 3, the UE 116 includes an antenna 305, a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver 310, TX processing circuitry 315, amicrophone 320, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 325. The UE 116also includes a speaker 330, a processor 340, an input/output (I/O)interface (IF) 345, a touchscreen 350, a display 355, and a memory 360.The memory 360 includes an operating system (OS) 361 and one or moreapplications 362.

The RF transceiver 310 receives, from the antenna 305, an incoming RFsignal transmitted by a gNB of the network 100. The RF transceiver 310down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an intermediatefrequency (IF) or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent tothe RX processing circuitry 325, which generates a processed basebandsignal by filtering, decoding, and/or digitizing the baseband or IFsignal. The RX processing circuitry 325 transmits the processed basebandsignal to the speaker 330 (such as for voice data) or to the processor340 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

The TX processing circuitry 315 receives analog or digital voice datafrom the microphone 320 or other outgoing baseband data (such as webdata, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 340.The TX processing circuitry 315 encodes, multiplexes, and/or digitizesthe outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IFsignal. The RF transceiver 310 receives the outgoing processed basebandor IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 315 and up-converts thebaseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is transmitted via theantenna 305.

The processor 340 can include one or more processors or other processingdevices and execute the OS 361 stored in the memory 360 in order tocontrol the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, the processor340 could control the reception of forward channel signals and thetransmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 310, theRX processing circuitry 325, and the TX processing circuitry 315 inaccordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

The processor 340 is also capable of executing other processes andprograms resident in the memory 360, such as processes for beammanagement. The processor 340 can move data into or out of the memory360 as required by an executing process. In some embodiments, theprocessor 340 is configured to execute the applications 362 based on theOS 361 or in response to signals received from gNBs or an operator. Theprocessor 340 is also coupled to the I/O interface 345, which providesthe UE 116 with the ability to connect to other devices, such as laptopcomputers and handheld computers. The I/O interface 345 is thecommunication path between these accessories and the processor 340.

The processor 340 is also coupled to the touchscreen 350 and the display355. The operator of the UE 116 can use the touchscreen 350 to enterdata into the UE 116. The display 355 may be a liquid crystal display,light emitting diode display, or other display capable of rendering textand/or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. Part of the memory 360could include a random access memory (RAM), and another part of thememory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).

Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of UE 116, various changes maybe made to FIG. 3. For example, various components in FIG. 3 could becombined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components couldbe added according to particular needs. As a particular example, theprocessor 340 could be divided into multiple processors, such as one ormore central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processingunits (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3 illustrates the UE 116 configured as amobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configured to operate asother types of mobile or stationary devices.

To meet the demand for wireless data traffic having increased sincedeployment of 4G communication systems, efforts have been made todevelop an improved 5G/NR or pre-5G/NR communication system. Therefore,the 5G/NR or pre-5G/NR communication system is also called a “beyond 4Gnetwork” or a “post LTE system.” The 5G/NR communication system isconsidered to be implemented in higher frequency (mmWave) bands, e.g.,28 GHz or 60 GHz bands or, in general, above 6 GHz bands, so as toaccomplish higher data rates or in lower frequency bands, such as below6 GHz, to enable robust coverage and mobility support. To decreasepropagation loss of the radio waves and increase the transmissiondistance, the beamforming, massive multiple-input multiple-output(MIMO), full dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antenna, an analog beamforming, large scale antenna techniques are discussed in 5G/NRcommunication systems. In addition, in 5G/NR communication systems,development for system network improvement is under way based onadvanced small cells, cloud radio access networks (RANs), ultra-densenetworks, device-to-device (D2D) communication, wireless backhaul,moving network, cooperative communication, coordinated multi-points(CoMP), reception-end interference cancellation and the like.

A communication system includes a DL that refers to transmissions from abase station or one or more transmission points to UEs and an uplink(UL) that refers to transmissions from UEs to a base station or to oneor more reception points.

A unit for DL signaling or for UL signaling on a cell is referred to asa slot and can include one or more symbols. A symbol can also serve asan additional time unit. A frequency (or bandwidth (BW)) unit isreferred to as a resource block (RB). One RB includes a number ofsub-carriers (SCs). For example, a slot can have duration of 0.5milliseconds or 1 millisecond, include 14 symbols, and an RB can include12 SCs with inter-SC spacing of 30 kHz or 15 kHz, respectively. A unitof one RB in frequency and one symbol in time is referred to as physicalRB (PRB).

DL signals include data signals conveying information content, controlsignals conveying DL control information (DCI), and reference signals(RS) that are also known as pilot signals. A gNB transmits datainformation or DCI through respective physical DL shared channels(PDSCHs) or physical DL control channels (PDCCHs). A PDSCH or a PDCCHcan be transmitted over a variable number of slot symbols including oneslot symbol. For brevity, a DCI format scheduling a PDSCH reception by aUE is referred to as a DL DCI format and a DCI format scheduling a PUSCHtransmission from a UE is referred to as an UL DCI format.

A gNB transmits one or more of multiple types of RS including channelstate information RS (CSI-RS) and demodulation RS (DM-RS). A CSI-RS isprimarily intended for UEs to perform measurements and provide channelstate information (CSI) to a gNB. For channel measurement, non-zeropower CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resources are used. For interferencemeasurement reports (IMRs), CSI interference measurement (CSI-IM)resources are used. A CSI process consists of NZP CSI-RS and CSI-IMresources.

A UE can determine CSI-RS transmission parameters through DL controlsignaling or higher layer signaling, such as radio resource control(RRC) signaling, from a gNB. Transmission instances of a CSI-RS can beindicated by DL control signaling or be configured by higher layersignaling. A DM-RS is typically transmitted only within a BW of arespective PDCCH or PDSCH and a UE can use the DM-RS to demodulate dataor control information.

FIG. 4A illustrates an example DL slot structure 400 according toembodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the DL slotstructure 400 illustrated in FIG. 4A is for illustration only and couldhave the same or similar configuration. FIG. 4 does not limit the scopeof this disclosure to any particular implementation.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, a DL slot 405 includes N_(symb) ^(DL) symbols410 where a gNB can transmit, for example, data information, DCI, orDM-RS. A DL system BW includes N_(RB) ^(DL) RBs. Each RB includes N_(sc)^(RB) SCs. A UE is assigned M_(PDSCH) RBs for a total of M_(sc)^(PDSCH)=M_(PDSCH)·N_(sc) ^(RB) SCs 415 for a PDSCH transmission BW. APDCCH conveying DCI is transmitted over control channel elements (CCEs)that are substantially spread across the DL system BW. A first slotsymbol 420 can be used by the gNB to transmit PDCCH. A second slotsymbol 425 can be used by the gNB to transmit PDCCH or PDSCH. Remainingslot symbols 430 can be used by the gNB to transmit PDSCH and CSI-RS. Insome slots, the gNB can also transmit synchronization signals andchannels that convey system information such as synchronization signalsand primary broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) blocks.

UL signals also include data signals conveying information content,control signals conveying UL control information (UCI), DM-RS associatedwith data or UCI demodulation, sounding RS (SRS) enabling a gNB toperform UL channel measurement, and a random access (RA) preambleenabling a UE to perform random access. A UE transmits data informationor UCI through a respective physical UL shared channel (PUSCH) or aphysical UL control channel (PUCCH). A PUSCH or a PUCCH can betransmitted over a variable number of symbols in a slot including onesymbol. When a UE simultaneously transmits data information and UCI, theUE can multiplex both in a PUSCH.

UCI includes hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK)information, indicating correct or incorrect detection of data transportblocks (TB s) or of code block groups (CBGs) in a PDSCH, schedulingrequest (SR) indicating whether or not a UE has data in the UE's buffer,and CSI reports enabling a gNB to select appropriate parameters forPDSCH or PDCCH transmissions to a UE.

A CSI report from a UE can include a channel quality indicator (CQI)informing a gNB of a largest modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for theUE to detect a TB with a predetermined block error rate (BLER), such asa 10% BLER, a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) informing a gNB how tocombine signals from multiple transmitter antennas in accordance with amultiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission principle, a CSI-RSresource indicator (CRI) indicating a CSI-RS resource associated withthe CSI report, and a rank indicator (RI) indicating a transmission rankfor a PDSCH.

UL RS includes DM-RS and SRS. DM-RS is typically transmitted only withina BW of a respective PUSCH or PUCCH transmission. A gNB can use a DM-RSto demodulate information in a respective PUSCH or PUCCH. SRS istransmitted by a UE to provide a gNB with an UL CSI and, for a TDDsystem, an SRS transmission can also provide a PMI for DL transmission.Additionally, in order to establish synchronization or an initial higherlayer connection with a gNB, a UE can transmit a physical random accesschannel (PRACH).

FIG. 4B illustrates an example UL slot structure 450 for PUSCHtransmission or PUCCH transmission according to embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The embodiment of the UL slot structure 450illustrated in FIG. 4B is for illustration only and could have the sameor similar configuration. FIG. 4B does not limit the scope of thisdisclosure to any particular implementation.

As shown in FIG. 4B, a slot 455 includes N_(symb) ^(UL) symbols 460where UE transmits, for example, data information, UCI, or DM-RS. An ULsystem BW includes N RBs. Each RB includes N_(sc) ^(RB) SCs. A UE isassigned M_(PUXCH) RBs for a total of M_(sc) ^(PUXCH)=M_(PUXCH)·N_(sc)^(RB) SCs 465 for a PUSCH transmission BW (“X”=“S”) or for a PUCCHtransmission BW (“X”=“C”). Last one or more symbols of a slot can beused, for example, to multiplex SRS transmissions 470 or short PUCCHtransmissions from one or more UEs.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example transmitter structure 501 using OFDMaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment ofthe transmitter structure 501 illustrated in FIG. 5A is for illustrationonly and could have the same or similar configuration. FIG. 5A does notlimit the scope of this disclosure to any particular implementation.

As shown in FIG. 5A, information bits, such as DCI bits or datainformation bits 502, are encoded by encoder 504, rate matched toassigned time/frequency resources by rate matcher 506 and modulated bymodulator 508. Subsequently, modulated encoded symbols and DM-RS orCSI-RS 510 are mapped to SCs by SC mapping unit 512, an inverse fastFourier transform (IFFT) is performed by filter 516, a cyclic prefix(CP) is added by CP, and a resulting signal is filtered by filter 518and transmitted by a radio frequency (RF) unit 520.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example receiver structure 531 using OFDMaccording to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment ofthe receiver structure 531 illustrated in FIG. 5B is for illustrationonly and could have the same or similar configuration. FIG. 5B does notlimit the scope of this disclosure to any particular implementation.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a received signal 532 is filtered by filter 534, aCP removal unit removes a CP 536, a filter 538 applies a fast Fouriertransform (FFT), SCs de-mapping unit 540 de-maps SCs selected by BWselector unit 542, received symbols are demodulated by a channelestimator and a demodulator unit 544, a rate de-matcher 546 restores arate matching, and a decoder 548 decodes the resulting bits to providedata information bits 550.

DL transmissions and UL transmissions can be based on an orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform including a variantusing DFT preceding that is known as DFT-spread-OFDM.

If a UE indicates a carrier aggregation capability larger than 4 servingcells, the UE also indicates a maximum number of PDCCH candidates the UEcan monitor per slot when the UE is configured for carrier aggregationoperation over more than 4 cells. When a UE is not configured for dualconnectivity operation, the UE determines a capability to monitor atotal maximum number of PDCCH candidates per slot that corresponds to amaximum number of PDCCH candidates per slot for N_(cells) ^(cap)downlink cells, where N_(cells) ^(cap) is either the number ofconfigured downlink cells or is indicated by the UE.

For each DL bandwidth part (BWP) configured to a UE in a serving cell,the UE can be provided by higher layer signaling with P≤3 controlresource sets (CORESETs). For each CORESET, the UE is provided a CORESETindex p, 0≤p<12, a DM-RS scrambling sequence initialization value, aprecoder granularity for a number of resource element groups (REGs) inthe frequency domain where the UE can assume use of a same DM-RSprecoder, a number of consecutive symbols, a set of resource blocks (RBs), CCE-to-REG mapping parameters, an antenna port quasi co-location,from a set of antenna port quasi co-locations, indicating quasico-location information of the DM-RS antenna port for PDCCH reception ina respective CORESET, and an indication for a presence or absence of atransmission configuration indication (TCI) field in a DCI format 1_1transmitted by a PDCCH.

For each DL BWP configured to a UE in a serving cell, the UE is providedby higher layers with S≤10 search space sets. For each search space setfrom the S search space sets, the UE is provided with a search space setindex s, 0≤s<40, an association between the search space set s and aCORESET p, a PDCCH monitoring periodicity of k_(s) slots and a PDCCHmonitoring offset of o_(s) slots, a PDCCH monitoring pattern within aslot, indicating first symbol(s) of the CORESET within a slot for PDCCHmonitoring, a duration of T_(s)<k_(s) slots indicating a number of slotsthat the search space set s exists, a number of PDCCH candidates M_(s)^((L)) per CCE aggregation level L, and an indication that search spaceset s is either a common search space (CSS) set or a UE-specific (USS)set.

When search space set s is a CSS set, the UE is provided respectiveindications for whether or not to monitor PDCCH candidates for DCIformats from a set of predetermined DCI formats that schedule PDSCHreceptions or PUSCH transmissions or provide control information. Whensearch space set s is a USS set, the UE is provided respectiveindications whether or not to monitor PDCCH candidates either for DCIformats associated with scheduling PDSCH receptions or PUSCHtransmissions.

A UE determines a PDCCH monitoring occasion on an active DL BWP from thePDCCH monitoring periodicity, the PDCCH monitoring offset, and the PDCCHmonitoring pattern within a slot. For search space set s, the UEdetermines that a PDCCH monitoring occasion(s) exists in a slot withnumber n_(s,f) ^(μ) in a frame with number n_(f) if (n_(f)·N_(slot)^(frame,μ)+n_(s,f) ^(μ)−o_(s))mod k_(s)=0. The UE monitors PDCCHcandidates for search space set s for T_(s) consecutive slots, startingfrom slot n_(s,f) ^(μ), and does not monitor PDCCH candidates for searchspace set s for the next k_(s)−T_(s) consecutive slots.

A USS at CCE aggregation level L∈{1, 2, 4, 8, 16} is defined by a set ofPDCCH candidates for CCE aggregation levels L. For a search space set sassociated with CORESET p, the CCE indexes for aggregation level Lcorresponding to PDCCH candidate m_(s,n) _(CI) of the search space setin slot n_(s,f) ^(μ) for an active DL BWP of a serving cellcorresponding to carrier indicator field value n_(CI) are given by:

${L \cdot \{ {( {Y_{p,n_{s,f}^{\mu}} + \lfloor \frac{m_{s,n_{CI}} \cdot N_{{CCE},p}}{L \cdot M_{s,\max}^{(L)}} \rfloor + n_{CI}} ){mod}\lfloor {N_{{CCE},p}/L} \rfloor} \}} + i$

where for any CSS, Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) =0, for a USS, Y_(p,n) _(s,f)_(μ) =(A_(p)·Y_(p,n) _(s,f) _(μ) ⁻¹)mod D, Y_(p,−1)=n_(RNTI)≠0,A_(p)=39827 for p mod 3=0, A_(p)=39829 for p mod 3=1, A_(p)=39839 for pmod 3=2, and D=65537, i=0, . . . , L−1; N_(CCE,p) is the number of CCEs,numbered from 0 to N_(CCE,p)−1, in CORESET p; n_(CI) is the carrierindicator field value if the UE is configured with a carrier indicatorfield for the serving cell on which PDCCH is monitored; otherwise,including for any CSS, n_(CI)=0, m_(s,n) _(CI) =0, . . . , M_(s,n) _(CI)^((L))−1, where M_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) is the number of PDCCH candidatesthe UE is configured to monitor for aggregation level L of a searchspace set s for a serving cell corresponding to n_(CI), for any CSS,M_(s,max) ^((L))=M_(s,0) ^((l)), for a USS, M_(s,max) ^((L)) is themaximum of M_(s,n) _(CI) ^((L)) over all configured n_(CI) values for aCCE aggregation level L of search space set s, and the radio networktemporary identifier (RNTI) value used for n_(RNTI) is a cell RNTI(C-RNTI).

A UE expects to monitor PDCCH candidates for up to 4 sizes of DCIformats that include up to 3 sizes of DCI formats with CRC scrambled byC-RNTI per serving cell. The UE counts a number of sizes for DCI formatsper serving cell based on a number of configured PDCCH candidates inrespective search space sets for the corresponding active DL BWP.

If a UE is configured with N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cells formonitoring PDCCH with active DL BWPs or reference DL BWPs having SCSconfiguration μ where Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)≤N_(cells) ^(cap), theUE is not required to monitor on the active DL BWPs of scheduling cellsmore than M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) PDCCHcandidates or more than C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=C_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs per slot for each scheduled cell.

If a UE is configured with N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cells formonitoring PDCCH with DL BWPs having SCS configuration μ, where Σ_(μ=0)³N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)>N_(cells) ^(cap), a DL BWP of an activated cell isthe active DL BWP of the activated cell, and a DL BWP of a deactivatedcell is the DL BWP with index indicated by higher layers for thedeactivated cell, such as a first active DL BWP, the UE is not requiredto monitor more than M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells)^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells)^(DL,j)┘ candidates or more than C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells)^(cap)·C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells)^(DL,j)┘ non-overlapped CCEs per slot on the DL BWP(s) of schedulingcell(s) from the N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cells.

For each scheduled cell, the UE is not required to monitor on the activeDL BWP with SCS configuration μ of the scheduling cell more thanmin(M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ), M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)) PDCCH candidatesor more than min(C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ),C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ))non-overlapped CCEs per slot.

A UE does not expect to be configured CSS sets that result tocorresponding total, or per scheduled cell, numbers of monitored PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapped CCEs per slot that exceed thecorresponding maximum numbers per slot. For same cell scheduling or forcross-carrier scheduling where a scheduling cell and scheduled cell(s)have DL BWPs with same SCS configuration μ, a UE does not expect anumber of PDCCH candidates and a number of corresponding non-overlappedCCEs per slot on a secondary cell to be larger than the correspondingnumbers that the UE is capable of monitoring on the secondary cell perslot. For cross-carrier scheduling, the number of PDCCH candidates formonitoring and the number of non-overlapped CCEs per slot are separatelycounted for each scheduled cell.

For all search space sets within a slot n, denote by S_(css) a set ofCSS sets with cardinality of I_(css) and by S_(uss) a set of USS setswith cardinality of J_(uss). The location of USS sets S_(j),0≤j<J_(uss), in S_(uss) is according to an ascending order of the searchspace set index. Denote by M_(S) _(css) _((i)) ^((L)), 0≤i<I_(css), thenumber of counted PDCCH candidates for monitoring for CSS set S_(css)(i)and by M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)), 0≤j<J_(uss), the number of countedPDCCH candidates for monitoring for USS set S_(uss)(j).

For the CSS sets, a UE monitors M_(PDCCH) ^(CSS)=Σ_(i=0) ^(I) ^(css)⁻¹Σ_(L)M_(S) _(css) _((i)) ^((L)) PDCCH candidates requiring a total ofC_(PDCCH) ^(CSS) non-overlapping CCEs in a slot.

The UE allocates PDCCH candidates for monitoring to USS sets for theprimary cell having an active DL BWP with SCS configuration μ in slot naccording to the following pseudocode as shown in TABLE 1. Denote byV_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j)) the set of non-overlapping CCEs for search space setS_(uss)(j) and by C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j))) the cardinality ofV_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j)) where the non-overlapping CCEs for search space setS_(uss)(j) are determined considering the allocated PDCCH candidates formonitoring for the CSS sets and the allocated PDCCH candidates formonitoring for all search space sets S_(uss)(k), 0≤k≤j.

TABLE 1 Pseudocode Set M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = min(M_(PDCCH) ^(max, slot, μ),M_(PDCCH) ^(total, slot, μ)) − M_(PDCCH) ^(css) Set C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) =min(C_(PDCCH) ^(max, slot, μ), C_(PDCCH) ^(total, slot, μ)) − C_(PDCCH)^(css) Set j = 0 while Σ_(L) M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)) ≤ M_(PDCCH)^(uss) AND C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j))) ≤ C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) allocate Σ_(L)M_(S) _(uss) _((j)) ^((L)) _(PDCCH) candidates for monitoring to USS setS_(uss)(j) M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = M_(PDCCH) ^(uss) − Σ_(L) M_(Suss(j))^((L)); C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) = C_(PDCCH) ^(uss) − C(V_(CCE)(S_(uss)(j))); j= j + 1; end while

A time span for PDCCH monitoring is defined by a pair of (X,Y) values inthe unit of symbols. For any two PDCCH monitoring occasions of a samesearch space set or of different search space sets, there is a minimumtime separation of X symbols (including the cross-slot boundary case)between the start of two spans (span gap). Each span is of length up toY consecutive symbols, starts at a first symbol where a PDCCH monitoringoccasion starts, and ends at a last symbol where a PDCCH monitoringoccasion ends. For example, Y can be the largest CORESET length forsearch space sets that the UE monitors PDCCH within X consecutivesymbols.

A UE can perform additional PDCCH monitoring within a slot when theadditional PDCCH monitoring starts at least after X symbols from thestart of a previous one. A first search space set can be associated witha smaller PDCCH monitoring time span, or at least with a smaller spangap value X, than a second search space set because, for example, thefirst search space set can be associated with scheduling applicationsrequiring shorter latency requirements that the second search space set.A total number of PDCCH candidates and a total number of non-overlappedCCEs for a UE configured search space sets with different PDCCHmonitoring span gaps X needs to therefore be determined.

PDCCH transmissions can represent material overhead of DL resources or,for a flexible duplex system, of total resources. For example, when a UEdensity per cell is large, such as for machine-type communications thatis also often referred to as internet-of-things (IoT) communications, anumber of PDCCH transmissions from a gNB per slot on a cell canpotentially consume a large percentage of frequency resources on thecell. Further, a bandwidth of a cell may be shared for transmission withdifferent radio access technologies, such as long term evolution (LTE)and new radio (NR), and resources for PDCCH transmission may not alwaysbe available.

Although PDCCH transmissions can be avoided when PDSCH receptions orPUSCH or PUCCH transmissions by UEs are configured by higher layers,such as by radio resource control (RRC) signaling, this results toinflexible network operation without a possibility for fast linkadaptation and with any change in the communication setup requiringreconfigurations by higher layer signaling.

For example, several attributes related to receptions by a UE ortransmissions from a UE on a cell, such as time-frequency resources(patterns) for rate matching receptions or transmissions, areprovided/configured to UEs by higher layers through common systeminformation or through UE-specific information. A reconfiguration ofsuch attributes requires the UEs to be paged and then scheduled PDSCHreception, by a DCI format in a PDCCH, for system information providingthe reconfiguration or for each UE to be individually provided thereconfiguration in a scheduled PDSCH reception by a DCI format in aPDCCH. Those mechanisms to update a configuration of communicationparameters, based on paging and subsequent system information update orbased on UE-specific higher layer signaling for each UE, are difficultfor a network to support and this limits an ability of the network toflexibly adapt to variations in traffic or channel mediumcharacteristics. Similar, for configuration of parameter values such asa modulation and coding scheme (MCS) table, or for a time domainresource allocation (TDRA) table by UE-specific RRC signaling, or of atransmission configuration indication (TCI) state for a CORESET, a delayfor a reconfiguration of the parameter values by RRC signaling can betoo large in some case and this also limits an ability of a network toadapt to changing traffic or channel conditions or to UE mobility.

Therefore, there is a need to enable a network to utilize availablecontrol signaling resources and distribute control signaling acrosscells or BWPs based on instantaneous traffic requirements.

There is another need to enable a UE to receive or transmit controlsignaling in parts of a bandwidth that is larger than a bandwidth wherethe UE receives or transmits data signaling.

There is another need to determine a total number of PDCCH candidatesand a total number of non-overlapped CCEs that a UE that is configuredwith different PDCCH monitoring span gaps can be expected to monitor ata given time.

Finally, there is another need to enable a network to provide updates toa configuration of communication parameters without using higher layersignaling.

The present disclosure relates to a pre-5^(th)-generation (5G) or 5Gcommunication system to be provided for supporting higher data ratesbeyond 4^(th)-generation (4G) communication system such as long termevolution (LTE). The present disclosure relates to enabling a network toutilize available control signaling resources and distribute controlsignaling across cells or BWPs based on instantaneous trafficrequirements. The present disclosure also relates to enabling a UE toreceive or transmit control signaling in parts of a bandwidth that islarger than a bandwidth where the UE receives or transmits datasignaling. The present disclosure additionally relates to determining atotal number of PDCCH candidates and a total number of non-overlappedCCEs that a UE that is configured with different PDCCH monitoring spangaps can be expected to monitor at a given time. The present disclosurefurther relates to enabling a network to provide updates to aconfiguration of communication parameters without using higher layersignaling.

In one embodiment, configurations for a UE are considered in order forthe UE to receive PDCCH candidates on multiple cells, or on multipleBWPs of a cell, or on a BWP that includes a BWP for PDSCH receptions,where a PDCCH reception provides a DCI format that schedules a PDSCHreception or a PUSCH transmission on a BWP of the cell. In suchembodiments, configurations are also considered for a UE to transmitPUCCH on multiple cells, or on multiple BWPs of a cell, where the UEtransmits a PUCCH on a cell from the multiple cells or on a BWP from themultiple BWPs of the cell.

A UE can be configured search space sets on different cells to monitorPDCCH candidates for DCI formats scheduling PDSCH receptions or PUSCHtransmissions on a cell. For example, for scheduling a PUSCHtransmission on a first cell from a UE, the UE can be configured a firstsearch space set on the first cell (or on a third cell) to monitor PDCCHcandidates for a DCI format scheduling the PUSCH transmission on thefirst cell and a second search space set on a second cell to monitorPDCCH candidates for a DCI format scheduling the PUSCH transmission onthe first cell.

In one example, it can be beneficial for a gNB to use the second searchspace set for a PDCCH transmission to the UE, for example, when a PDCCHtransmission from the first search space set would be blocked by anotherPDCCH transmission or by other signaling, or when a CORESET for thefirst search space set would be underutilized by having only one PDCCHtransmission, or, for example, for operation on unlicensed spectrum,when a PDCCH transmission from the first search space set is notpossible due to blocked channel access.

A UE can therefore be simultaneously configured for self-carrier(self-cell) scheduling on a first cell using a first search space setfor PDCCH receptions on the first cell and for cross-carrier(cross-cell) scheduling on the first cell from a second cell using asecond search space set for PDCCH receptions on the second cell. For thefirst search space set for scheduling PDSCH receptions or PUSCHtransmissions on the first cell, a carrier indicator field value isn_(CI)=0. For the second search space set, the carrier indicator fieldvalue is different than 0, such as n_(CI)=1, and can be provided byhigher layer signaling to the UE by the gNB, or the carrier indicatorfield value can be determined according to the cell index or accordingto a number of cells used for cross-carrier scheduling on the cell.

When a UE monitors PDCCH in a BWP of a first cell with a SCSconfiguration μ₁ and the UE monitors PDCCH in a BWP of the first cellwith a SCS configuration μ₂ for scheduling PDSCH receptions or PUSCHtransmissions on the BWP of the first cell, the UE counts the PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapping CCEs of the first search space set in atotal number of PDCCH candidates and non-overlapping CCEs for monitoringPDCCH on DL BWPs of cells with SCS configuration μ₁ and counts the PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapping CCEs of the second search space set in atotal number of PDCCH candidates and non-overlapping CCEs for monitoringPDCCH on DL BWPs of cells with SCS configuration μ₂.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a UE procedure 600 for a search spaceset according to embodiments of the present disclosure. For example,FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration to a UE of a first search space seton a first cell and of a second search space set on a second cell forscheduling PDSCH receptions to or PUSCH transmissions for the UE. Anembodiment of the UE procedure 600 shown in FIG. 6 is for illustrationonly. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 6 can beimplemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform the notedfunctions or one or more of the components can be implemented by one ormore processors executing instructions to perform the noted functions.Other embodiments are used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a UE is configured a first search space setassociated with a CORESET on a first cell and a second search space setassociated with a CORESET on a second cell for scheduling PDSCHreceptions to the UE or PUSCH transmissions from the UE on the firstcell in step 610. The UE detects a DCI format either in a PDCCHreception from the first search space set or in a PDCCH reception fromthe second search space set where the DCI format schedules a PDSCHreception or a PUSCH transmission during a time period on the first cellin step 620. The UE can expect to detect only one DCI format thatschedules a PDSCH reception or a PUSCH transmission in non-overlappingtime resources, or in non-overlapping frequency resources, on the firstcell. The UE receives the PDSCH or transmits the PUSCH over the timeperiod on the first cell in step 630.

The configurations of the first and second search space sets can beunrestricted and allow for time-overlapping PDCCH monitoring occasions,such as PDCCH monitoring occasions within a same slot or within a samespan gap X, or can be restricted to allow only non-overlapping PDCCHmonitoring occasions, such as PDCCH monitoring occasions according tothe first search space set are not in a same slot or in a same span gapX as PDCCH monitoring occasions according to the second search spaceset.

Instead of enabling a configuration for self-carrier scheduling andcross-carrier scheduling on an active DL BWP or UL BWP through arespective configuration of search space sets, it is also possible thatself-carrier scheduling or cross-carrier scheduling is a BWP-specificconfiguration parameter. For example, when a UE has a first DL BWP as anactive BWP on a cell, self-carrier scheduling is used to schedule PDSCHreceptions to the UE on the first DL BWP of the cell while when the UEhas a second DL BWP as an active BWP on the cell, cross-carrierscheduling is used to schedule PDSCH receptions to the UE on the secondDL BWP of the cell.

For example, this can be beneficial when a UE experiences differentinterference conditions in different BWPs. In such case, cross-carrierscheduling can be used when the UE experiences larger interference inthe BWP because PDCCH receptions do not benefit from HARQretransmissions. For example, this can be beneficial when a gNB prefersto use a BWP for PDSCH (and CSI-RS) transmissions without controlsignaling overhead for PDCCH transmissions. Then, with an active BWPchange indication by a DCI format in a PDCCH reception, a latency forthe UE to switch between self-carrier and cross-carrier scheduling for ascheduled cell is minimized.

A UE can be configured with a first BWP for PDCCH receptions and asecond BWP for PDSCH receptions. The second BWP can be included in thefirst BWP. The second BWP may also not be directly defined as a separateBWP; instead, the UE may be configured for PDSCH receptions in a part ofthe first BWP. A frequency domain resource allocation field in a DCIformat scheduling a PDSCH reception can address only the second BWP.This can enable a UE to receive PDCCH over a wider BWP in order toprovide more PDCCH resources and avoid blocking of PDCCH transmissionsparticularly when multiple UEs can be scheduled at a same PDCCHmonitoring occasion. A frequency domain resource allocation for a PDSCHreception can be limited to a smaller bandwidth, for example forapplications associated with receptions of small transport blocks, and acorresponding field in a DCI format scheduling the PDSCH reception canbe dimensioned according to the smaller bandwidth.

A UE can be configured with PUCCH resources in different BWPs of a cellor in different cells. This can be beneficial for a gNB to dynamicallybalance PUCCH resource overhead among different BWPs or cells, adapt tochannel medium and interference conditions that a UE experiences indifferent BWPs or cells, account for a cell availability such as when afirst cell operates on unlicensed spectrum and a second cell operates onlicensed spectrum, and so on. For example, a PUCCH resource set caninclude PUCCH resources in different BWPs of a cell or in differentcells. A BWP index or a cell index can be included in the parametersidentifying a PUCCH resource such as an associated PUCCH format. A PUCCHresource indicator field in a DCI format can indicate a PUCCH resource,that also includes a BWP index or a cell index, for a PUCCHtransmission.

For example, when a BWP index or a cell index is not part of a PUCCHresource, a separate field can be included in a DCI format triggering aPUCCH transmission from a UE to indicate a BWP index or a cell index forthe PUCCH transmission. Depending on the cell for the PUCCHtransmission, the UE can be configured to apply a separate accumulationof TPC commands for determining a PUCCH transmission power according toa respective cell index.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of a UE procedure 700 to determine acell for a PUCCH transmission according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. An embodiment of the UE procedure 700 shown in FIG. 7 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 7can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a UE is configured a set of PUCCH resources. APUCCH resource includes a cell index in step 710. The UE detects a DCIformat that indicates a PUCCH resource for a PUCCH transmission in step720. For example, the DCI format can be a last DCI format from a set ofDCI formats that indicate a PUCCH transmission within a same timeinterval such as a slot. The UE determines a cell index that is includedin a set of parameters associated with the PUCCH resource in step 730.The UE transmits the PUCCH on the cell with index associated with thePUCCH resource in step 740.

In one embodiment, a determination for a total number of PDCCHcandidates and a total number of non-overlapped CCEs that a UE isexpected to monitor for search space sets with different PDCCHmonitoring span gaps is considered.

When a UE is configured to monitor PDCCH candidates over different timespans (X,Y) on a same cell, the UE determines a total number of PDCCHcandidates and a total number of non-overlapped CCEs that the UE canmonitor in the active DL BWP of the cell according to corresponding UEcapabilities for the smallest gap of the time spans.

For example, when a UE indicates a capability to monitor M₁ PDCCHcandidates and C₁ non-overlapped CCEs for a time span of (X₁, Y₁)symbols and to monitor M₂ PDCCH candidates and C₂ non-overlapped CCEsfor a time span of (X₂, Y₂) symbols, where X₂<X₁ and Y₂≤Y₁, and the UEis configured to monitor PDCCH for a first search space set withperiodicity of X₁ symbols and a second search space set with periodicityof X₂ symbols, the number of PDCCH candidates and the number ofnon-overlapped CCEs the UE is expected to monitor can be determinedbased on the UE capability for the smaller gap corresponding to the timespan of (X₂, Y₂) symbols.

For example, when X₁=7, X₂=2, and Y₁=Y₂=2, the UE determines a number ofPDCCH candidates and a number of overlapping CCEs to monitor based on M₂and C₂. Therefore, M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)can be replaced by M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ) and M_(PDCCH)^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ), where M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ) andC_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ) PDCCH are the maximum number of PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapped CCEs that a UE can monitor for a PDCCHmonitoring span with a smallest gap value of X. Similar, M_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) can be replaced byM_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ^(min) ^(,μ).Equivalently, if a UE can monitor PDCCH with a first time span of (X₁,Y₁) symbols and with a second time span of (X₂, Y₂) symbols, where X₂<X₁and Y₂≤Y₁, and the UE is configured to monitor PDCCH with consecutiveoccasions separated by at least X₁ symbols, the UE monitors PDCCHaccording to the first time span of (X₁, Y₁) symbols.

FIG. 8A illustrates a flow chart of UE procedure 800 to determine PDCCHcandidates according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Anembodiment of the UE procedure 800 shown in FIG. 8A is for illustrationonly. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 8A can beimplemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform the notedfunctions or one or more of the components can be implemented by one ormore processors executing instructions to perform the noted functions.Other embodiments are used without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8B illustrates an example for determining PDCCH candidates 840according to embodiments of the present disclosure. An embodiment of thePDCCH candidates 840 shown in FIG. 8B is for illustration only. One ormore of the components illustrated in FIG. 8B can be implemented inspecialized circuitry configured to perform the noted functions or oneor more of the components can be implemented by one or more processorsexecuting instructions to perform the noted functions. Other embodimentsare used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a determination by a UE of a maximum numberof PDCCH candidates and of a maximum number of non-overlapped CCEsaccording to this disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 8A, a UE is configured first and second searchspace sets with time spans of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and of (X₂, Y₂) symbols,respectively in step 810. For example, X₁=7 842, Y₁=3 844, X₂=4 852 andY₂=2 854. The search space sets can be on an active BWP of a same cellor of different cells with a same SCS configuration μ. The UE determinesthat X₂<X₁ in step 820. The UE subsequently determines a maximum numberof PDCCH candidates and a maximum number of non-overlapped CCEs tomonitor per any span according to a maximum number of PDCCH candidatesand a maximum number of non-overlapped CCEs for the indicated UEcapability for (X₂, Y₂) in step 830. The determination can be aspreviously described for M_(PDCCH) ^(max,span_min,μ) and C_(PDCCH)^(max,span_min,μ) and for M_(PDCCH) ^(total,X) ^(min) ^(,μ) andC_(PDCCH) ^(total,X) ^(min) ^(,μ).

In order to account for a UE capability to monitor a larger number ofPDCCH candidates or a larger number of non-overlapped CCEs as a value ofX increases, for example, M₁>M₂ or C₁>C₂ for X₁>X₂, the UE can determinea total number of PDCCH candidates M_(PDCCH) ^(total,X,μ) and a totalnumber of non-overlapped CCEs C_(PDCCH) ^(total,X,μ) per PDCCHmonitoring span gap for each value of X associated with a search spaceset on an active BWP of a cell with SCS configuration μ by scaling witha ratio between a number of search space sets with span gap of X symbolsand a number of all search space sets on active BWPs of cells with SCSconfiguration μ.

When a UE is configured with N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cells formonitoring PDCCH with DL BWPs having SCS configuration μ and searchspace sets with PDCCH monitoring span gap of at least X symbols, whereΣ_(μ=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)>N_(cells) ^(cap), a DL BWP of an activatedcell is the active DL BWP of the activated cell, and a DL BWP of adeactivated cell is the DL BWP with index indicated by higher layers forthe deactivated cell, the UE is not required to monitor more than atotal of M_(PDCCH) ^(total,X,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M_(PDCCH)^(max,X,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)·S_(X) ^(μ)/(Σ_(X)S_(X) ^(μ)·Σ_(j=0)³N_(cells) ^(DL,j))┘ PDCCH candidates or more than a total of C_(PDCCH)^(total,X,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·C_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ)·N_(cells)^(DL,μ)·S_(X) ^(μ)/(Σ_(X)S_(X) ^(μ)·Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j))┘non-overlapped CCEs per PDCCH monitoring span gap of X symbols on the DLBWP(s) of scheduling cell(s) from the N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) downlink cellswhere M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ) are respectively amaximum number of PDCCH candidates and a maximum number ofnon-overlapped CCEs that the UE can monitor for span gap of X symbolsfor SCS configuration μ, S_(X) ^(μ) is a total number of search spacesets over all DL BWPs of cells with SCS configuration μ, and Σ_(X)S_(X)^(μ) is a sum of all search space sets on active BWPs of cells with SCSconfiguration μ.

Considering the aforementioned approach for a UE configured to monitorPDCCH for multiple time spans (X,Y) on an active DL BWP of a cell todetermine a total number of PDCCH candidates or a total number ofnon-overlapped CCEs for PDCCH monitoring over the DL BWP of the cellaccording to the smallest gap X of the time spans, and denoting byN_(cells) ^(DL,X,μ) a number of cells from the N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)downlink cells where the UE monitors PDCCH according to a (smallest forthe DL BWP of the cell) span gap of X symbols, N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)·S_(X)^(μ)/Σ_(X)S_(X) ^(μ) is same as N_(cells) ^(DL,X,μ). Then, the UE is notrequired to monitor more than a total of M_(PDCCH)^(total,X,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ)·N_(cells)^(DL,X,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘ PDCCH candidates or more than atotal of C_(PDCCH) ^(total,X,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·C_(PDCCH)^(max,X,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,X,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘non-overlapped CCEs per PDCCH monitoring span gap of X symbols on theN_(cells) ^(DL,X,μ) cells.

A UE can declare a PDCCH monitoring capability for a number of cellsN_(cells) ^(cap) that is larger than a number of configured cells forall SCS configurations μ(Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)). In that case, forany PDCCH monitoring span gap X, as an alternative allocation of PDCCHcandidates and non-overlapping CCEs to scheduled cells that fullyutilizes the PDCCH monitoring capability of the UE, the UE can beexpected to monitor a maximum number of PDCCH candidates or a maximumnumber of non-overlapped CCEs, that is larger than a maximum number ofPDCCH candidates M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ) or a maximum number ofnon-overlapped CCEs C_(PDCCH) ^(max,X,μ), respectively, when the UE doesnot declare a PDCCH monitoring capability for a number of cells or whena number of configured cells for all SCS configurations μ(Σ_(μ=0)³N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)) is larger than or equal to N_(cells) ^(cap).

For example, the UE can be expected to monitor a maximum number of PDCCHcandidates determined as

$M_{PDCCH}^{{total},X,\mu} = \lfloor {\frac{N_{cells}^{cap}}{\Sigma_{j = 0}^{3}N_{cells}^{{DL},j}} \cdot M_{PDCCH}^{\max,X,\mu}} \rfloor$

and a maximum number of non-overlapped CCEs determined as

$c_{PDCCH}^{{total},X,\mu} = \lfloor {\frac{N_{cells}^{cap}}{\Sigma_{j = 0}^{3}N_{cells}^{{DL},j}} \cdot C_{PDCCH}^{\max,X,\mu}} \rfloor$

or, per N_(cells) ^(DL,X,μ) cells, as

$M_{PDCCH}^{{total},X,\mu} = {{{\lfloor {\frac{N_{cells}^{cap}}{\Sigma_{j = 0}^{3}N_{cells}^{{DL},j}} \cdot N_{cells}^{{DL},X,\mu}} \rfloor \cdot M_{PDCCH}^{\max,X,\mu}}\mspace{14mu} {or}\mspace{14mu} C_{PDCCH}^{{total},X,\mu}} = {\lfloor {\frac{N_{cells}^{cap}}{\Sigma_{j = 0}^{3}N_{cells}^{{DL},j}} \cdot N_{cells}^{{DL},X,\mu}} \rfloor \cdot {C_{PDCCH}^{\max,X,\mu}.}}}$

A UE can be configured with a total number of cells (Σ_(μ=0) ³N_(cells)^(DL,μ)) that is larger than a UE capability of N_(cells) ^(cap) forPDCCH monitoring. Regardless of a PDCCH monitoring span gap andconsidering for simplicity a PDCCH monitoring capability per slot, atotal number of PDCCH candidates M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells)^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells)^(DL,j)┘ and a total number of non-overlapped CCEs C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)·N_(cells)^(DL,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘ may be smaller than M_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ)·Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j) or C_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ)·Σ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j), respectively. Then, a UE and aserving gNB need to have a common understanding for a partitioning ofthe M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) PDCCH candidates and of the C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs among the N_(cells) ^(DL,μ) for eachSCS configuration μ.

In one embodiment, when an active BWP on a primary cell has SCSconfiguration μ, the UE allocates M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) candidates andC_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs, from the M_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ) candidates and the C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)non-overlapped CCEs, to the primary cell and distributes remainingM_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)−M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) PDCCH candidates andremaining C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)−C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)non-overlapped CCEs to secondary cells with SCS configuration μ, whenany.

In one example, the UE allocates └(M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)−M_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ))/(N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)−1)┘ PDCCH candidates and └(C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)−C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ))/(N_(cells) ^(DL,μ)−1)┘non-overlapped CCEs to each secondary cell. For example, the UEallocates PDCCH candidates and non-overlapped CCEs to each secondarycell according to a respective configuration of search space setssubject to the per cell maximum number of PDCCH candidates andnon-overlapped CCEs, M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)respectively, and subject to the total number of PDCCH candidates andnon-overlapped CCEs across all secondary cells not exceeding M_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)−M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ)−C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ), respectively. When an activeBWP on a primary cell does not have SCS configuration μ, the UEallocates M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) PDCCH candidates and C_(PDCCH)^(total,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs to secondary cells with SCSconfiguration μ, when any.

In another example, an allocation for a number of PDCCH candidates orfor a number of non-overlapping CCEs to secondary cells is not specifiedand, for all CSS sets and USS sets associated with all secondary cells,the UE expects that a total number of PDCCH candidates does not exceedM_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)−M_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) and a total number ofnon-overlapping CCEs does not exceed C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ)−M_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ) while a maximum number of PDCCH candidates per slot isM_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ), and a maximum number of non-overlapping CCEsper slot is C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ) per scheduled secondary cell with DLBWP having SCS configuration μ.

In one embodiment, regardless of whether a cell is a primary cell or asecondary cell, the UE allocates M_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) PDCCHcandidates and C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) non-overlapped CCEs to cellswith SCS configuration μ when any, and it is up to the gNB scheduler toensure that a total number of PDCCH candidates and non-overlapping CCEsacross all scheduling cells with SCS configuration μ does not exceedM_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ) and C_(PDCCH) ^(total,slot,μ), respectively.In another example, the UE directly computes a number of PDCCHcandidates and a number of non-overlapped CCEs per cell with SCSconfiguration μ as M_(PDCCH) ^(cell,slot,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M_(PDCCH)^(max,slot,μ)/μ_(j=0) ³N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘ and as C_(PDCCH)^(cell,slot,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·C_(PDCCH) ^(max,slot,μ)/Σ_(j=0)³N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘ respectively.

The aforementioned embodiments and/or examples are also directlyapplicable to any PDCCH monitoring span gap X according to any of theprevious approaches regarding PDCCH monitoring as a function of a PDCCHmonitoring span gap.

In one embodiment, usage of a DCI format in a PDCCH is considered toindicate configurations of parameters related to UE-specific informationor to system information that is provided by a gNB for a cell or forBWPs of a cell.

A UE can be provided an RNTI, such as a config-RNTI, for scrambling aCRC of a DCI format. For brevity, the DCI format may be referred to asDCI format S. The UE can determine CCEs for a reception of a PDCCH thatprovides the DCI format through a corresponding common search space(CSS). The DCI format S can have a same size as another DCI format thatthe UE is configured to monitor in a same CORESET according to a CSS oraccording to a UE-specific search space (USS).

In addition, instead of providing a separate RNTI, one bit field or acombination of bit field values in a DCI format that the UE is alsoconfigured to monitor PDCCH for can be used to indicate a functionalityof the DCI format. For example, a 1-bit field can be included in a DCIformat to indicate whether the DCI format schedules a PDSCH with systeminformation, or with paging information, or whether the DCI formatprovides TPC commands, and so on, or whether the DCI format indicatesvalues for parameters that are also provided by (UE-common orUE-specific) system information.

The UE can be provided by higher layers from a gNB a set of values foreach parameter from a set of parameters. For example, a parameter can bea ControlResourceSetZero and the UE can be provided a valuecontrolResourceSetZero that provides an index of a CORESET with index 0from a set of CORESETs. For example, a parameter can be aCommonControlResourceSet and the UE can be provided a valueCommonControlResourceSet for a common control resource set with indexother than 0 that can be associated with CSS or USS. For example, aparameter can be a SearchSpaceZero and the UE can be provided a valueSearchSpaceZero for a common search space with index 0 in a BWP otherthan an initial BWP.

For example, a value can be a search space index such as for asearchSpaceSIB1 or a pagingSearchSpace or a ra-SearchSpace for the UE tomonitor PDCCH for DCI formats scheduling a SIB1, a paging message, or arandom access response, respectively, such as in a BWP other than aninitial BWP.

For example, a value can be a ssb-PositionsInBurst that indicates timedomain positions of transmitted SS/BPCH blocks in a half frame where afirst/leftmost bit corresponds to SS/PBCH block index 0, a second bitcorresponds to SS/PBCH block index 1, and so on. A value of 0 or 1 inthe bitmap indicates respectively that a corresponding SS/PBCH block isnot transmitted or is transmitted.

For example, a value can be a ssb-PeriodicityServingCell that indicatesa periodicity of SS/PBCH block transmissions for UEs with receptions inan associated BWP to rate match the receptions with respect to theSS/PBCH block resources.

For example, a value can be a ss-PBCH-BlockPower that indicates anaverage energy per resource element (EPRE), in dBm, for resourceelements that the gNB used to transmit secondary synchronization signalsin SS/PBCH blocks.

For example, a value can be a tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon thatindicates an UL/DL configuration for flexible duplex (TDD) operationsuch as for example over 10 msec.

For example, a value can be a rateMatchPatternToAddModList thatindicates resources patterns for a to use for rate matching of PDSCHreceptions of same SCS configuration. For example, a value can be for anumber of PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level for search spacesets of DCI formats associated with common search spaces such as forsuch as for searchSpaceSIB1, pagingSearchSpace or ra-SearchSpace.

For example, a value can be used to enable or disable PDCCH monitoringin one or more search space sets for DCI formats having associated PDCCHcandidates with CCE locations determined by a common search space suchas for a DCI format providing TPC commands to a group of UEs or for aDCI format indicating resources with interrupted transmissions to agroup of UEs.

A UE can be configured a set of parameters having values provided by DCIformat S or the set of parameters can be predetermined in a systemoperation. The UE can also be configured a starting position and a sizefor a bit field in DCI format S where a value for a parameter isprovided or the position or the size for the bit field in DCI format Scan be predetermined in the system operation. The UE can also beprovided a search space set for monitoring PDCCH candidates providingDCI format S or DCI format S can be associated with a search space setwith predetermined index, such as 0, and the UE can monitor PDCCH forassociated PDCCH candidates in a corresponding CORESET such as a CORESETwith index 0.

The UE may also be configured a set of BWPs that the values of theparameters are applicable or the set of BWPs can be predetermined in thesystem operation and, for example, include only the BWP of the PDCCHreception that provides DCI format S.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart of UE procedure 900 to determine valuesfor a set of parameters according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. An embodiment of the UE procedure 900 shown in FIG. 9 is forillustration only. One or more of the components illustrated in FIG. 9can be implemented in specialized circuitry configured to perform thenoted functions or one or more of the components can be implemented byone or more processors executing instructions to perform the notedfunctions. Other embodiments are used without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a UE is configured to monitor PDCCH for a DCIformat S that includes fields providing values for a set of parametersin step 910. The DCI format S does not schedule a PDSCH reception or aPUSCH transmission. For example, the set of parameters can include oneor more of a ControlResourceSetZero, commonControlResourceSet,searchSpaceZero, searchSpaceSIB1, pagingSearchSpace, ra-SearchSpace,ssb-PositionsInBurst, ssb-PeriodicityServingCell, ss-PBCH-BlockPower,tdd-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon, rateMatchPatternToAddModList, or a numberof PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level for search space sets ofsome or all of DCI formats associated with common search spaces such asfor searchSpaceSIB1, pagingSearchSpace or ra-SearchSpace. The UE detectsformat S in step 920. The UE updates values for set of parameters withvalues provided by DCI format S in step 930. The UE receives signalingaccording to the updated values for set of parameters in step 940.

In to providing updates to parameters associated with systeminformation, it possible for DCI format S to be a UE-specific DCIformat, such as a DCI format with CRC scrambled by a C-RNTI, and providean update to values of parameters used by a UE to receive PDSCH or totransmit PUSCH. For example, the DCI format can be one that the UEmonitors according to USS sets for scheduling a PDSCH reception or aPUSCH transmission. Several methods can apply for differentiating thecontents of the DCI format between scheduling PDSCH reception or a PUSCHtransmission and indicating updated values for parameters associatedwith PDSCH receptions or PUSCH transmission, including using (a) adifferent RNTI, (b) a flag field indicating an interpretation for theremaining fields of the DCI format, (c) a predetermined combination ofvalues of predetermined fields of the DCI format so that the remainingfields of the DCI format can be interpreted as indicating areconfiguration of values for parameters used for PDSCH receptions orPUSCH transmissions, and so on.

For example, when a UE experiences channel conditions that deteriorate,a reconfiguration of values of parameters for the UE to receive PDSCH ortransmit PUSCH can include an indication of an MCS table or of a CQItable with lower spectral efficiency values, an indication of atime-domain resource allocation (TDRA) table that includes (more)repetitions for a PDSCH reception or a PUSCH transmission, an indicationof a different group of search space sets that include a larger numberof PDCCH candidates for the larger CCE aggregation levels, and so on.The reverse can apply when the UE experiences channel conditions thatimprove. Each parameter value to be indicated can be from a set ofpredetermined values of parameters in the system operation or from a setof values of parameters that are provided by higher layers. For example,a set of 3 or 4 MCS tables, or a set of 3 or 4 CQI tables, or a numberof RB groups indicated by a frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA)field, can be predetermined in the system operation and one can beindicated by the DCI format. For example, a set of search space setgroups, such as two set groups, or a set of CORESET groups, such as twoCORESET groups, or a set of TDRA tables, such as 4 TDRA tables, and soon, can be provided by higher layers and one element of a set can beindicated by the DCI format. For example, a TCI state for a CORESET canbe indicated from a set of TCI states that was previously provided byhigher layers and, for example, a PDCCH transmission providing the DCIformat can be in a different CORESET such as a CORESET with index 0 forwhich a TCI state may not be adapted. Such adaptation of parametervalues results to a smaller latency as compared to a reconfiguration ofthe parameter values by higher layer signaling and to a more robustsystem operation. Even though the DCI format does not schedule areception of TBs in a PDSCH or a transmission of TBs in a PUSCH, the UEcan provide HARQ-ACK information in response to the detection of the DCIformat.

Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplaryembodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to oneskilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompasssuch changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims. None of the description in this application should be read asimplying that any particular element, step, or function is an essentialelement that must be included in the claims scope. The scope of patentedsubject matter is defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user equipment (UE) comprising: a transceiverconfigured to: transmit a capability for receptions of physical downlinkcontrol channels (PDCCHs) on a downlink (DL) cell according to a firstpair of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and a second pair of (X₂, Y₂) symbols, wherein:PDCCH receptions on the DL cell are according to (X₁, Y₁) or (X₂, Y₂)when any two PDCCH receptions are within Y₁ or Y₂ symbols or have firstsymbols separated by at least X₁ or X₂ symbols, respectively, Y₁<X₁,Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂, and a first maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ)of PDCCH receptions within Y₁ symbols according to (X₁, Y₁) is smallerthan a second maximum number M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) of PDCCHreceptions within Y₂ according to (X₂, Y₂); and receive a configurationof search space sets for PDCCH receptions on the DL cell; and aprocessor, operably connected to the transceiver, the processorconfigured to determine based on the configuration of the search spacesets whether PDCCH receptions are according to (X₂, Y₂), wherein thetransceiver is further configured to receive on the DL cell: a maximumnumber of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCHreceptions are not according to (X₂, Y₂), and a maximum number ofM_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₂ symbols when PDCCHreceptions are according to (X₂, Y₂).
 2. The UE of claim 1, wherein: thetransceiver is further configured to receive a configuration ofN_(cells) ^(DL,j) DL cells, scheduling on the N_(cells) ^(DL,j) DL cellsis by corresponding PDCCH receptions having a sub-carrier spacing (SCS)value of 2^(j)·15 kHz, j=0, . . . , J, wherein J is a predeterminednumber of SCS values, and the processor is further configured todetermine: PDCCH receptions according to (X₂, Y₂) for scheduling onN_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DL cells, and a total number of PDCCHreceptions M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) for scheduling on the N_(cells)^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DL cells as M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ)=└N_(cells)^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ)/Σ_(j=0)^(J)N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘, where: N_(cells) ^(cap) is a number of downlink(DL) cells, and └ ┘ is a ‘floor’ function that rounds a number to a nextsmaller integer.
 3. The UE of claim 1, wherein: the transceiver isfurther configured to transmit an indication for a number N_(cells)^(cap) of DL cells when N_(cells) ^(cap)>4, and a minimum value forN_(cells) ^(cap) is
 4. 4. The UE of claim 1, wherein the transceiver isfurther configured to receive: a configuration of second search spacesets for PDCCH receptions on a second DL cell, PDCCHs on the DL cellaccording to the search space sets, PDCCHs on the second DL cellaccording to the second search space sets, and first and second physicaldownlink shared channels (PDSCHs) on the DL cell, wherein: the firstPDSCH is scheduled by a first downlink control information (DCI) formatprovided by a PDCCH reception on the DL cell, and the second PDSCH isscheduled by a second DCI format provided by a PDCCH reception on thesecond DL cell.
 5. The UE of claim 4, wherein: the first DCI format doesnot include a cell indicator field (CIF), and the second DCI formatincludes a CIF.
 6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is furtherconfigured to: receive on the DL cell: first and second PDCCHs providingfirst and second downlink control information (DCI) formats,respectively, and first and second physical downlink shared channels(PDSCHs) scheduled by the first and second DCI formats, the first andsecond PDSCHs providing first and second transport blocks (TB s),respectively; and transmit: on a first cell, a physical uplink controlchannel (PUCCH) with hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement(HARQ-ACK) information for the first TB, and on a second cell, a PUCCHwith HARQ-ACK information for the second TB.
 7. The UE of claim 6,wherein the first and second DCI formats include a field indicating acell for a PUCCH transmission.
 8. A base station comprising: atransceiver configured to: receive a capability for transmissions ofphysical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a downlink (DL) cellaccording to a first pair of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and a second pair of (X₂,Y₂) symbols, wherein: PDCCH transmission on the DL cell are according to(X₁, Y₁) or (X₂, Y₂) when any two PDCCH transmission are within Y₁ or Y₂symbols or have first symbols separated by at least X₁ or X₂ symbols,respectively, Y₁<X₁, Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂, and a first maximum numberM_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) of PDCCH transmissions within Y₁ symbolsaccording to (X₁, Y₁) is smaller than a second maximum number M_(PDCCH)^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) of PDCCH transmissions within Y₂ according to (X₂, Y₂);and transmit a configuration of search space sets for PDCCHtransmissions on the DL cell; and a processor, operably connected to thetransceiver, the processor configured to determine based on theconfiguration of the search space sets whether PDCCH transmissions areaccording to (X₂, Y₂), wherein the transceiver is further configured totransmit on the DL cell: a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ)PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCH transmissions are not according to(X₂, Y₂), and a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) PDCCHswithin Y₂ symbols when PDCCH transmissions are according to (X₂, Y₂). 9.The base station of claim 8, wherein: the transceiver is furtherconfigured to transmit a configuration of N_(cells) ^(DL,j) DL cells,scheduling on the N_(cells) ^(DL,j) DL cells is by corresponding PDCCHtransmissions having a sub-carrier spacing (SCS) value of 2^(j)·15 kHz,j=0, . . . , J, wherein J is a predetermined number of SCS values, andthe processor is further configured to determine: PDCCH transmissionsaccording to (X₂, Y₂) for scheduling on N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DLcells, and a total number of PDCCH transmissions M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ²^(,μ) for scheduling on the N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DL cells asM_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ²^(,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ^(J)N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘, where:N_(cells) ^(cap) is a number of downlink (DL) cells, and └ ┘ is the‘floor’ function that rounds a number to its next smaller integer. 10.The base station of claim 9, wherein: the transceiver is furtherconfigured to receive an indication for a number N_(cells) ^(cap) of DLcells when N_(cells) ^(cap)>4, and a minimum value for N_(cells) ^(cap)is
 4. 11. The base station of claim 10, wherein the transceiver isfurther configured to transmit: a configuration of second search spacesets for PDCCH receptions on a second DL cell, PDCCHs on the DL cellaccording to the search space sets, PDCCHs on the second DL cellaccording to the second search space sets, and first and second physicaldownlink shared channels (PDSCHs) on the DL cell, wherein: the firstPDSCH is scheduled by a first downlink control information (DCI) formatprovided by a PDCCH transmission on the DL cell, and the second PDSCH isscheduled by a second DCI format provided by a PDCCH transmission on thesecond DL cell.
 12. The base station of claim 11, wherein: the first DCIformat does not include a cell indicator field (CIF), and the second DCIformat includes a CIF.
 13. The base station of claim 8, wherein thetransceiver is further configured to: transmit on the DL cell: first andsecond PDCCHs providing first and second downlink control information(DCI) formats, respectively, and first and second physical downlinkshared channels (PDSCHs) scheduled by the first and second DCI formats,the first and second PDSCHs providing first and second transport blocks(TB s), respectively; and receive: on a first cell, a physical uplinkcontrol channel (PUCCH) with hybrid automatic repeat requestacknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information for the first TB, and on a secondcell, a PUCCH with HARQ-ACK information for the second TB.
 14. The basestation of claim 13, wherein the first and second DCI formats include afield indicating a cell for a PUCCH reception.
 15. A method forreceiving physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs), the methodcomprising: transmitting a capability for receptions of PDCCHs on adownlink (DL) cell according to a first pair of (X₁, Y₁) symbols and asecond pair of (X₂, Y₂) symbols, wherein: PDCCH receptions on the DLcell are according to (X₁, Y₁) or (X₂, Y₂) when any two PDCCH receptionsare within Y₁ or Y₂ symbols or have first symbols separated by at leastX₁ or X₂ symbols, respectively, Y₁<X₁, Y₂<X₂, and X₁<X₂, and a firstmaximum number M M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ) of PDCCH receptions withinY₁ symbols according to (X₁, Y₁) is smaller than a second maximum numberM_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) PDCCH receptions within Y₂ according to (X₂,Y₂); receiving a configuration of search space sets for PDCCH receptionson the DL cell; determining, based on the configuration of the searchspace sets, whether PDCCH receptions are according to (X₂, Y₂); andreceiving on the DL cell: a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ¹ ^(,μ)PDCCHs within Y₁ symbols when PDCCH receptions are not according to (X₂,Y₂), and a maximum number of M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) PDCCHs within Y₂symbols when PDCCH receptions are according to (X₂, Y₂).
 16. The methodof claim 15, further comprising: receiving a configuration of N_(cells)^(DL,j) DL cells, wherein: scheduling on the N_(c) ^(D), DL cells is bycorresponding PDCCH receptions having a sub-carrier spacing (SCS) valueof 2^(j)·15 kHz, and j=0, . . . , J, wherein J is a predetermined numberof SCS values; and determining: PDCCH receptions according to (X₂, Y₂)for scheduling on N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DL cells, and a total numberof PDCCH receptions M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ) for scheduling on the NDcells N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ² ^(,μ) DL cells as M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ²^(,μ)=└N_(cells) ^(cap)·M_(PDCCH) ^(max,X) ² ^(,μ)·N_(cells) ^(DL,X) ²^(,μ)/Σ_(j=0) ^(J)N_(cells) ^(DL,j)┘, where: N_(cells) ^(cap) is anumber of downlink (DL) cells, and └ ┘ is a ‘floor’ function that roundsa number to a next smaller integer.
 17. The method of claim 16, furthercomprising: transmitting an indication for a number N_(cells) ^(cap) ofDL cells when N_(cells) ^(cap)>4, wherein a minimum value for N_(cells)^(cap) is
 4. 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising receiving: aconfiguration of second search space sets for PDCCH receptions on asecond DL cell, PDCCHs on the DL cell according to the search spacesets, PDCCHs on the second DL cell according to the second search spacesets, and first and second physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) onthe DL cell, wherein: the first PDSCH is scheduled by a first downlinkcontrol information (DCI) format provided by a PDCCH reception on the DLcell, and the second PDSCH is scheduled by a second DCI format providedby a PDCCH reception on the second DL cell.
 19. The method of claim 15,further comprising: receiving on the DL cell: first and second PDCCHsproviding first and second downlink control information (DCI) formats,respectively, and first and second physical downlink shared channels(PDSCHs) scheduled by the first and second DCI formats, the first andsecond PDSCHs providing first and second transport blocks (TB s),respectively; and transmitting: on a first cell, a physical uplinkcontrol channel (PUCCH) with hybrid automatic repeat requestacknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information for the first TB, and on a secondcell, a PUCCH with HARQ-ACK information for the second TB.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the first and second DCI formats include afield indicating a cell for a PUCCH transmission.